Service On Celluloid

The firebombing campaign on Japan near the end of World War II was waged with devastating success. In “Grave of the Fireflies” - considered an amine classic - filmmaker Isao Takahata explores how the bombing affected the civilian population. Join the “Service on Celluloid” panel for a discussion of the film’s historical accuracy and emotional impact. 

After you’ve heard the “Service on Celluloid” panel’s discussion about the 1977 epic “A Bridge Too Far,” return to Operation Market Garden on a new minisode featuring WWII veteran eyewitnesses T. Moffatt Burriss and Theo Finkbeiner.

Operation Market Garden, the ill-fated Airborne action of mid-September 1944, is the subject of Richard Attenborough’s star-studded “A Bridge Too Far” (Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Gene Hackman, Ryan O’Neal, and many more). Critic Roger Ebert wrote that it “went two or even three bridges too far.”  Will the "Service on Celluloid" panel agree?

On this week’s minisode we’ll hear from Harry L. Ettlinger (pictured), who was the inspiration for the Private Sam Epstein character (as portrayed by Dimitri Leonidas) in "The Monuments Men." (Image courtesy of the National Museum of American Jewish Military History.)

Based on the research of author Robert M. Edsel, the 2014 film "The Monuments Men" has a big-name cast (George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, and others) and a gripping true story about rescuing the art treasures of Europe from the Nazis. The "Service on Celluloid" podcast panel weighs how well it tells that story. 

The 1970 satire "Kelly's Heroes," starring Clint Eastwood and a large cast of scene bandits (including WWII veteran Don Rickles), looked at World War II through the lens of the Vietnam era. Our "Service on Celluloid" panel observes that the film gets a surprising number of details just right.

The 1942 drama “Mrs. Miniver,” subject of the most recent "Service on Celluloid" podcast, depicts life on the British Home Front during the time of Dunkirk and the Blitz. Tune in to this week's minisode for a deeper dive into these historic events.

Winston Churchill said “Mrs. Miniver” was “propaganda worth 100 battleships.” Join the "Service on Celluloid" podcast panelists to explore how the film also provides an insightful look at the lives of those on the Home Front during World War II.

The "Service on Celluloid" exploration of “Casablanca” and its real-life setting continues with the story of Hélène Cazès-Benatar, who founded the Moroccan Refugee Aid Committee in 1940 to help Jewish refugees arriving in Casablanca.

Rick came to Casablanca for the waters. He was misinformed. This week, the “Service on Celluloid” podcast panel informs your appreciation for “Casablanca” by exploring the WWII history behind the 1942 Warner Bros. classic.  

Following our discussion of "Run Silent, Run Deep," hear from Billy Leibold and Jim Allen (pictured) who served in the silent service.

“You have to like submarine pictures to like ‘Run Silent, Run Deep,’ ” wrote "New York Times" film critic Bosley Crowther when the film was released in 1958. Will the "Service on Celluloid" panelists agree?

Following our panel’s discussion of “Sands of Iwo Jima,” hear from veterans Dave Severance and James Goodrich (pictured) as they discuss the fighting and famous flag raising on Iwo Jima.

John “The Duke” Wayne landed an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of flawed Marine Sergeant John Stryker in 1949’s “Sands of Iwo Jima,” but how much does this propagandistic film get right about one of the most iconic battles of World War II? The “Service on Celluloid” panel knows.

This week’s “Service on Celluloid” minisode follows on our discussion about 1970’s “Patton” with oral history visits with two servicemembers—Fred Hirsekorn and Captain Abraham Baum (pictured)—who had memorable encounters with the film’s legendary title character.

The 1970 blockbuster “Patton” was honored with multiple Academy Awards, including a Best Actor trophy for George C. Scott (who didn’t attend the ceremony to accept), but how true is the film biography to the historical record and to its subject, General George S. Patton? This week, our “Service on Celluloid” panel dives into the film for a lively conversation about its historical hits and misses as well as its standing among Hollywood’s greatest WWII-set movies.

Following our episode about “Empire of the Sun," listen to oral histories from Howard Hart (a civilian internee) and Phillip Schweitzer (who helped liberate Los Baños internment camp).

This week we review "Empire of the Sun," a shenanigans-heavy coming-of-age story with artful cinematography and a swelling John Williams score—all the markings of a 1980s Steven Spielberg film—but how accurate is it?

Though World War II takes only a few minutes of screen time in “It's a Wonderful Life,” the film has many links to the war and wartime America.  Listen to learn why the holiday classic is the topic of conversation on a podcast dedicated to screen depictions of World War II.

Following our discussion of “A League of Their Own,” we will hear from Virginia Hamilton (pictured) describing her WWII reporting about women taking over jobs previously held only be men, then WWII veteran and big-league pitcher Lou Brissie.